Tech jumps two spots at Kenny Perry Invitational; Two freshmen lead team

Oct 16, 2012

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The Tennessee Tech men's golf team shaved six strokes off its team total from Monday's round and a whopping 13 shots from Sunday's opening round, and made a jump of two spots in the final team standings to place seventh at the Kenny Perry Invitational Tuesday.

The 12-team tournament, hosted by Western Kentucky, was held at The Club at Old Stone in Bowling Green. Winds that had unsettled the entire field on the first two day cooperated on Tuesday, leading to improved scores for the Golden Eagles.

Freshmen Adam Cunningham and Mitchell Thomas proved to be Tech's individual leaders, tying for 28th place with identical 243 totals. Cunningham closed with an 81 Tuesday after scoring 85 and the team's low tourney round of 77 on the first two days. Thomas, who had opened with scores of 79 and 84, closed with an 80 on Tuesday.

Senior Lee Maxwell had scorecards reading 81, 84 and 83, to finish with a 248 total and tie for 38th place. Lee Whitehead showed continued improvement with rounds of 86, 85 and 79, and posted a 54-hole total of 250 for 45th place.

Junior Greg Kitts was a study in perseverance over the course of the tournament. After posting a disastrous 94 on Sunday, he fought back to shoot 79 and 78 over the last two days -- Tech's best total over the final 36 holes -- and climbed from 58th place on Sunday to a final 46th place finish.

Jacksonville State led from wire-to-wire, while Charlie Bull of Akron pulled out a one-stroke victory to capture medalist honors. JSU posted a 928 total to edge Louisville (930) for the team title. Austin Peay (933) was third, followed by Akron (941) and Western Kentucky (965) in the Top 5.